RSS Feedhttps://10.40.239.129/blogs/rss-feed/Blog RSS Feeden{CC929D6D-F045-40FA-9B46-2339C06E1EFF}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/06/3-insights-giving-courage-to-overwhelmed-moms-everywhere/3 Insights Giving Courage to Overwhelmed Moms Everywhere<p>The transition to motherhood is not always seamless and can be tough. You often feel like you&rsquo;re in survival mode. You love your children no matter what, but nothing can prepare you for the exhaustion, crying, frustration, and loneliness that are all part of adjusting to a new baby.</p>
<p>You&rsquo;re normal if you resent being needed so much by another person. If you think you were selfless and patient before you had children, just wait...those virtues will be tested, and you&rsquo;ll have opportunities to grow and learn along with your children.</p>
<p>We all have different strengths, and different stages of parenting will highlight them, as well as our weaknesses. It&rsquo;s okay if you don&rsquo;t love the baby stage. If this describes you and your feelings, take comfort in the following three things:</p>
<p><strong>All stages will pass, even when it feels like they never will.</strong></p>
<p>Endurance. That&rsquo;s the word that comes to my mind when I think of the baby stage. Relish the good: the opportunities you have to cuddle your baby, to see their cute little toothless grins, or to watch them take their first steps. Remember that they do grow, and they won&rsquo;t be babies forever.</p>
<p><strong>Everyone has their favorite stage of motherhood, and that is okay.</strong></p>
<p>There is a lot of pressure to enjoy every stage of motherhood, which gives you guilt if you don&rsquo;t like the one you&rsquo;re in. Remember that loving your children is much different than loving the stage that you&rsquo;re in. Maybe you don&rsquo;t function well in one stage, but in another you&rsquo;ll flourish!</p>
<p><strong>Joy comes in moments.</strong></p>
<p>Life as a mom is mundane. Dishes, laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, bathing the kids...our work is never done. And these tasks may stretch you beyond your natural abilities. If you pay attention, you&rsquo;ll be able to find joy in little moments. These moments will sustain you through hard times. And I&rsquo;ve found that if I put down my phone, stop what I&rsquo;m doing, and look my child in the eye, whether they&rsquo;re a baby or an older child, you will connect. You will see the love they have for you and show the love you have for them. Those moments can bring you true joy, but they have to be sought after.</p>
<p>Remember, you are not alone if you don&rsquo;t always love being a mom. Some days are hard, and the hard days during certain stages will far outweigh the days where you feel like you have it all together. Don&rsquo;t wish away those days waiting for something better. </p>
<p>I love how Lynnette Sheppard, mother and creator of <a href="http://simplyforreal.com/overwhelmed-mother/">Simply for Real</a>, puts it, &ldquo;Know that each stage of motherhood will eventually come together to create a beautiful canvas that you are now painting one brush stroke at a time. The strokes from the dark and difficult days will be just as important to the finished product as the strokes from the joyful days that pass with relative ease. When all is said and done, it will be a masterpiece. Just. Keep. Painting.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Sometimes it takes a date night with your spouse or friends. One quick option for a day out for mom is Intermountain Alta View Hospital <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/hospitals/altaview/classes/ladies-night-out/Pages/home.aspx" target="_blank">Ladies Night Out</a>. This is a evening designed for moms and friends to come out and benefit from a little pampering. Come enjoy free messages, food, crafts, and classes of wellness. You can check out details or see who will be attending on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/478888088932953/" target="_blank">event Facebook page</a>. </p>
<p>Other helpful resources:&nbsp;</p>
<p> <a target="_blank" href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/services/womennewborn/pregnancy/afterdelivery/Pages/CarinigforMom.aspx">Caring for Mom</a></p>Tue, 02 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0600{C9167BD9-881C-45E7-90B1-51DD5E387AD6}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/06/understanding-thyroid-cancer-in-the-old-and-young/Understanding Thyroid Cancer in the Old and Young<p>Anaplastic thyroid cancer is the rarest type of thyroid cancer, and accounts for less than one percent of all cases. The onset of this type of cancer peaks in those over age 65 and is twice as common in men than women. However, papillary thyroid cancer, which has a 95-98 percent cure rate, is more prominent in women than men.</p>
<p>The majority of thyroid cancer cases occur in younger populations. However, after age 45, thyroid cancers become biologically more aggressive. People who are over age 75 are more likely to have anaplastic growths, which are uniformly aggressive in spreading to other areas of the body, including the lungs, and very lethal. </p>
<p>&ldquo;Upwards of 30 percent of women between the ages of 25-45 would be diagnosed with a nodule growing on their thyroid gland,&rdquo; said Robert Hunter, MD, head and neck oncologist at Intermountain Medical Center. &ldquo;But it&rsquo;s important to note that only 12 percent of thyroid nodules are worrisome and require some form of treatment.&rdquo; </p>
<p>Treatment of thyroid cancer varies. Some patients simply have their thyroid removed. Others have the thyroid and surrounding lymph nodes removed, and then undergo radioactive iodine treatment. The best treatment option is based on the size and location of the tumor, as well as the patient&rsquo;s age.</p>
<p>People with thyroid cancer would rarely have noticeable symptoms. The abnormal growths on the thyroid are more often detected during an unrelated x-ray of the head, neck, or chest. </p>
<p>&ldquo;Often we see images from a patient who had an x-ray or CT scan following a trauma or unrelated injury because a growth was incidentally observed on the thyroid,&rdquo; said Dr. Hunter. &ldquo;But on occasion we have patients who notice a lump in their neck that moves up and down when they swallow. A lump of that nature is something that should be evaluated.&rdquo;</p>
<p>After a nodule is identified on the thyroid, the patient is typically referred to an expert and later sent for an ultrasound and needle biopsy to determine if cancer cells are present. If the growth is non-cancerous, the patient follows up in six to 12 months to determine any changes in the growth. If cancer cells are identified, the specialist would discuss available treatment options.</p>
<p>Thyroid cells may become cancerous when genetic abnormalities cause the cells to mutate. Research indicates that environmental factors, such as radiation exposure, are often the cause of these abnormalities.&nbsp;</p>Tue, 02 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0600{B0FF13C4-BB11-48D8-8439-C98A47B745F3}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/06/understanding-and-improving-life-after-life-threatening-illness/Understanding and Improving Life After Life-threatening Illness<p>The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is an important part of the hospital which is designed to care for the medical needs of critically ill patients. The advanced medical care provided in the ICU helps most patients survive very serious or life-threatening illness. This care often involves many procedures, machines, and medications. Some help fight infection; others support breathing, blood pressure, kidney and other organ function.</p>
<p>For both our patients and their family members, a stay in the ICU can involve an unfamiliar, uncomfortable, and a highly stressful environment. The ICU team, which includes physicians, nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, physical and occupational therapists, social work, dieticians and pastoral care, also tries to focus on providing care and comfort to our patients and their family members during this stressful situation. </p>
<p>Despite surviving an acute illness and leaving the ICU, patients may be left with physical health and mental health consequences that last months to years after they are discharged. The medical community recognizes this as Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS). PICS can affect day-to-day functioning, ability to return to work, physical strength, cognitive problems such as trouble with thinking or memory, and mental health problems such as the symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Some of these mental health symptoms can affect not only patients, but also their family members. </p>
<p>These effects may require extended time off from work, and be associated with significant financial and emotional burden. We do not know yet how to completely predict who will be affected by PICS among patients, but it seems that early interventions like early mobilization (physical therapy), might help to reduce PICS symptoms after ICU discharge. </p>
<p>The <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/hospitals/imed/research/healthii/Pages/home.aspx" target="_blank">Center for Humanizing Critical Care </a>at Intermountain Medical Center focuses on delivering the highest quality of medical care as well as facilitating an ICU experience where patients and families feel cared for, respected, safe and understood. </p>
<p>Through our research programs, we hope to develop and improve existing systems to encourage open communication between ICU staff, patients and their families. We also hope to improve short- and long-term outcomes for patients and their families. Currently, we are conducting research that might help identify who is at risk for PICS, and what we might be able to do to prevent this outcome. We are grateful for the support of those who have been a part of this work, especially our patients and their family members. We appreciate continual feedback from our current and past patients, as well as their family members, regarding how we can better achieve our goal of humanizing critical care.</p>
<p style="font-weight: bold;">Additional online resources for patients and family members: </p>
<p>The <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/hospitals/imed/research/healthii/Pages/home.aspx" target="_blank">Center for Humanizing Critical Care</a> at Intermountain Medical Center</p>
<p>Intensive Care Unit:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/pulmonary/research/outcomes_after_critical_illness_surgery/" target="_blank">Outcomes after Critical Illness</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.myicucare.org/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">My ICU Care</a> is run by a nonprofit group of critical care doctors, nurses, and other caregivers who work together all over the world and are known as the Society of Critical Care Medicine.</li>
<li><a href="http://icusteps.org/" target="_blank">ICU Steps</a> has information about the critical care setting, the caregivers involved, and what options you have. Developed in Great Britain by the National Health Service. It has good information about intensive care for families, friends and caregivers.</li>
</ul>
<p>Delirium: </p>
<ul>
<li> is a<a href="http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/icudelirium/patients.html" target="_blank">ICU Delirium</a> good resource to help you understand delirium (confusion) in the intensive care patient</li>
</ul>
<div>
<div>
<div id="_com_1"> </div>
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</div>Tue, 02 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0600{295F71B0-55FA-41D4-A29E-3598F47ADA44}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/06/avoid-falling-for-grocery-store-food-traps/Avoid Falling for Grocery Store Food Traps<p class="p1"><strong>&ldquo;Made with fruit and vegetables&rdquo; or &ldquo;Contains a serving of fruits and/or vegetables&rdquo; - </strong>While these kinds of claims sounds great &mdash;it&rsquo;s not always as it seems. Many manufacturers are using fruit and vegetable powders to create <em>healthy</em> foods made from <em>unhealthy</em> ingredients.</p>
<p class="p2">Whole fruits and vegetables contain vitamins and minerals, phytochemicals, fiber, and water that aren&rsquo;t included when you use a powder. While it&rsquo;s true you may get some nutrients, it tends to be a fraction of what you would find in the whole fruit. Fruits and vegetables are very low in calories and are more satisfying. With many of these products, you get the fruit or vegetable powder coupled with sugar, starch, and fat &ndash; not guaranteeing a low calorie option.</p>
<p class="p3"><em>Foods to watch out for:</em> fruit snacks, prepackaged smoothies, and vegetable chips/pastas</p>
<p class="p4"><strong>&ldquo;Made with whole grains&rdquo; - </strong>The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends whole grain intake be at least half of all grains consumed. Many manufacturers are producing more foods made with whole grains.&nbsp; However, just because something is made with whole grains, does not make it a healthy food. If there are eight or more grams of whole grain per serving, the grain can be considered a &ldquo;whole grain&rdquo; and you&rsquo;ll see the&nbsp;Whole Grains Council&rsquo;s stamp on its label. Many foods have more than their fair share of refined grains and sugar added.</p>
<p class="p2"><em>Foods to watch out for:</em> frozen waffles, cookies, crackers, breakfast cereals, and desserts</p>
<p class="p4"><strong>&ldquo;Contains 5 grams of fiber&rdquo; - </strong>Most Americans fall short of their fiber intake and don&rsquo;t get anywhere close to the recommended 25-30 grams per day. There are many health benefits to fiber, increasing satiety, keeping bowel movements regular, and aids in lowering cholesterol levels. However, if a food does not contain fiber naturally (think fruits, vegetables, nuts/seeds, whole grains), then a manufactured fiber has been added. We don&rsquo;t see the same health benefit with added fibers as we do with intact fibers. They do not impact satiety and only minimally increase bowel regularity.</p>
<p class="p2"><em>Foods to watch out for:</em> Watch out for fiber added to protein/meal replacement bars, cookies, desserts, and granola bars.</p>
<p class="p4"><strong>&ldquo;Nuts&rdquo; - </strong>Nuts are a hot commodity and convey health whenever we see them in our favorite grocery store and nuts really are all they are cracked up to be &ndash; no pun intended -but not all foods that contain nuts are. Beverages like almond or cashew milk don&rsquo;t really contain many nuts and may actually be packed with added sugars. Additionally, many foods have added chocolate or sugar to increase acceptance.</p>
<p class="p2"><em>Foods to watch out for:</em> Caution with nut milks, trail mix, chocolate nut spreads.</p>Mon, 01 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0600{395DD36A-122A-43DF-A7EA-42E13EE612BA}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/06/precision-genomics-test-icg100/Intermountain Precision Genomics and the ICG100 Test
<p>I am energized to be here at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. It is wonderful to rub shoulders with so many professionals who are seeking to conquer cancer. As an oncologist, I interact daily with people and families for whom this devastating disease has become an all-consuming reality.</p>
<p>This is why I am excited about <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/precision-genomics" target="_blank">Intermountain Precision Genomics</a> ICG100 targeted, genomic-based approach to cancer care. It is always difficult to tell a stage four metastatic cancer patient that there is nothing left to try. This new genomics-based approach has given new hope to many of my patients with incurable malignancies. We may not be able to cure cancer, but with precision genomic-based therapy, I can help people live more fulfilling lives <em>with</em> their cancer.</p>
<p>Sometimes cancer becomes non-responsive, or resistant to traditional chemotherapy. Conventional chemotherapy can also be a rather imprecise treatment for a very specific problem and the side-effects can often be horrendous. Technology has evolved to where we can analyze the DNA, or genetic makeup, of cancerous tumors. The ICG100 process begins with the next-generation sequencing of the DNA in a tumor sample, so that we can determine precisely which gene mutations are causing the cancer. This is important information, because many drug companies have produced drugs designed to alter very specific mutations.</p>
<p>For example, a drug regularly prescribed for breast cancer was given to a patient with colon cancer. Next-generation sequencing of the colon tumor DNA revealed that this particular colon cancer had a gene mutation generally found in breast cancer. The colon cancer responded favorably to the breast cancer medication and the improvements seen in the patient’s overall health were extraordinary.</p>
<p>From an oncologist’s standpoint, I find this genomic-based approach gives me more options. Targeted drug therapy, or precision medicines, have far fewer side-effects than standard chemotherapy. Patients enjoy the ease of taking the precision medications orally and at home. I have also found that patients undergoing precision therapy have far fewer trips to the Emergency Department than those using conventional chemotherapy. These are a few of the ways this new treatment for cancer is improving the quality of my stage four cancer patients’ lives.</p>
<p>I am confident that ICG100, as a cancer-fighting tool, is as advanced as anything available on the market today. ICG100 includes next-generation sequencing as well as an evaluation of test results by a collaborative team of scientists, physicians, oncologists, and researchers known as the Molecular Tumor Board. I feel confident recommending ICG100 precision medicine to my patients knowing it was endorsed by the Molecular Tumor Board specialists who review each case individually. </p>
<p>After discussing the Molecular Tumor Board’s recommended care options with my patient, the Intermountain Precision Genomics ICG100 also includes a drug procurement process. The ICG Drug Navigation Team handles all of the appeals, insurance issues, and clinical trial paperwork necessary to ensure my patient gets the precision drugs that will most benefit them.</p>
<p>From start to finish, the ICG100 process takes about 17 days. The ICG100 is a proven, cost-effective option for stage four cancer patients. The ICG100 can be ordered by oncologists nationwide, through a simple web-based interface. The ICG100 is suitable for FFPE and fresh tissue samples. As an oncologist, I can submit samples, order next-generation sequencing, make treatment selections and order precision medicines, all on-line.</p>
<p>I am excited to be a part of Intermountain Precision Genomics and to be a part of the future of cancer care - today. Please refer to our recently published ASCO Meeting Abstracts for further information:</p>
<p>Precision medicine to improve survival without increasing costs in advanced cancer patients. (<a href="http://abstracts.asco.org/156/AbstView_156_152750.html" target="_blank">Abstract No. e17641</a>)</p>
<p>Implementation of a precision cancer program in an integrated health care system. (<a href="http://abstracts.asco.org/156/AbstView_156_152375.html" target="_blank">Abstract No. e17647)</a></p>
<p>Or visit ASCO Booth #16153 in the Oncology Professionals Hall or <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/precision-genomics" target="_blank">precisioncancer.org</a></p>Mon, 01 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0600{A442C9D8-0812-4C25-8F3F-16932FA4206C}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/05/live-from-asco-2015-icg100/Dr. Pravin J. Mishra on ICG100<p>It is thrilling to be here at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. I have dedicated my life to researching and developing strategies to conquer cancer. My colleagues, Lincoln Nadauld, MD, PhD, and Derrick Haslem, MD, and I are excited to introduce our groundbreaking technology - ICG100 - that will be published in an abstract at this conference.</p>
<p><strong>ICG100 </strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;ICG100 is a comprehensive test that uses state-of-the-art next generation sequencing to find and target individual somatic mutations within cancer tumors. ICG100 is cost-effective and offers high sensitivity and reportage as well as superior capability for clinical management through the identification of actionable genes, genomics-driven personalized treatment plans, and precision cancer care.</p>
<p><strong>Identification of Actionable Genes</strong></p>
<p>DNA is extracted from a patient&rsquo;s tumor specimen and is sequenced for 96 cancer-related genes which are commonly altered, or mutated. This panel targets regions using an in-solution oligo-capture sequencing method. Our test offers high coverage (&gt;100X) and detects all classes of genomic alterations, including translocations, indels - insertions/deletions, copy number alterations (CNA&rsquo;s) and point mutations. Our approach is viable and well suited for FFPE and fresh tissue samples.</p>
<p><strong>Genomic Personalized Treatment Plans</strong></p>
<p>In order to accommodate the diverse variants generated by our sequencing chemistry, we have developed a comprehensive, integrated service known as the molecular tumor board. This collaborative, interdisciplinary, board consists of expert scientists and physicians in genomics from across the western United States. The board meets weekly to discuss individual, effective treatment options based on genomic data and clinical relevance. Personalized, interpretive treatment plans are then linked with verified, precision cancer medications.</p>
<p><strong>Precision Cancer Care</strong></p>
<p>ICG100 can be ordered by any oncologist in the world through a simple web-based interface where genomic results and molecular tumor board recommendations are viewed. Additionally, oncologists can make a treatment selection and order precision medications with ease and convenience. End to end, the entire ICG100 process averages a 17 day turn-around time.</p>
<p>For more information: visit Booth #16153 in the Oncology Professionals Hall or <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/precision-genomics" target="_blank">precisioncancer.org</a> or follow Precision Genomics on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/precisiongenomics?ref=hl" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</p>Sun, 31 May 2015 00:00:00 -0600{0DE3D177-E9D4-4E40-9712-62713D5DBABA}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/05/heart-healthy-recipe-summer-vegetable-gratin/Heart-healthy Recipe: Summer Vegetable Gratin<p><strong>INGREDIENTS</strong></p>
<p><em>Note: The vegetable quantities are flexible based on size and what you have available</em></p>
<ul>
<li>1 yellow onion, chopped</li>
<li>2-3 red potatoes &amp; 2-3 Yukon Gold potatoes, washed and sliced into extra thin rounds</li>
<li>2-3 zucchini, sliced into thin rounds</li>
<li>1-2 yellow squash, sliced into thin rounds</li>
<li>3 large tomatoes, sliced into thin rounds</li>
<li>3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced</li>
<li>2-3 T extra virgin olive oil</li>
<li>Kosher salt &amp; freshly ground pepper to taste</li>
<li>1 cup freshly ground whole wheat breadcrumbs</li>
<li>1/3 cup crumbled Feta cheese</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>DIRECTIONS</strong></p>
<p><em>Equipment: 9x13x2 (or similar sized baking dish)</em></p>
<ol>
<li>Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees</li>
<li>Spread the onion mixture over the bottom of the baking dish. Top the onion mixture with a thin layer of potatoes, top with a layer of zucchini and squash, sprinkle some of the garlic slices over the top. Add a layer of sliced tomatoes. Drizzle with 2 T olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Repeat.</li>
<li>Spread the breadcrumbs and Feta cheese on the top layer of tomatoes.</li>
<li>Bake 45-50 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and the breadcrumbs are golden. If the top starts to brown before the potatoes have cooked, cover gently with foil.</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>VARIATIONS</strong></p>
<p>To make this dish quite aesthetic, use a round or oval dish and alternately layer the potatoes, squash, and tomato in spiraling circles. This will highlight the various colors.</p>
<p><em>Recipe credit: Kristi Spence</em></p>Fri, 29 May 2015 00:00:00 -0600{C8BF9F99-FE83-4FFE-B67B-FC81A7C67641}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/05/a-stroke-can-strike-anyone-at-any-age/A Stroke Can Strike Anyone at Any Age. Here&#39;s the Warning Signs and 4 Ways to Reduce Your Risk
<strong>Am I at risk of having a stroke? </strong>
<br>
“Patients who are diabetic, have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, and patients who smoke are more likely to have strokes,” said Robert Hoesch, MD, medical director for the stroke program at Intermountain Medical Center. “But anyone, even people who are relatively young and healthy, could potentially have a stroke.”
<div><br>
While you can’t do much about risk factors related to your age, gender or family history, there are four important things you can do to lower your risk of stroke — and improve your overall health:<br>
<ol>
<li>Stop smoking. If you smoke, quitting now will dramatically improve your health today and in the future. It will lower your chance of stroke as well as many other serious medical conditions. Read more about how to quit.</li>
<li>Maintain a healthy weight. This will help you control your blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes — and lower your chance of heart disease and stroke. Talk to your doctor or a dietitian about how to lose weight safely, slowly, and permanently. </li>
<li>Exercise. Physical activity protects your heart, brain, and bones. It makes you stronger, gives you more energy, and helps you cope with daily stress. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week. The 30 minutes could also be broken up throughout your day: take the stairs instead of an elevator, park at the end of parking lots, walk the dog, etc.</li>
<li>See your doctor regularly. Your doctor can check for "silent" stroke risk factors like high blood pressure and help you manage any chronic illnesses such as diabetes. </li>
</ol>
<strong>How do I know I’m having a stroke?</strong><br>
You can use the acronym BE FAST to remember the signs of a stroke, and also to remind yourself that if you have these symptoms you’d better BE FAST and call 911. The letters stand for:</div>
<p><strong>B</strong>: Balance - sudden dizziness or loss of balance or coordination <br>
<strong>E</strong>: Eyes - sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes <br>
<strong>F</strong>: Face - sudden weakness of the face (Does one side of your face droop?) <br>
<strong>A</strong>: Arm - weakness of an arm or leg <br>
<strong>S</strong>: Speech - sudden difficulty speaking <br>
<strong>T</strong>: Time - time the symptoms started</p>
<p>
“For every second that blood flow is interrupted to the brain, approximately 32,000 brain cells dies,” said Dr. Hoesch. “So our mantra in stroke care is ‘time is brain.’ What that means is, shorter time to treatment translates to less disability. If you think you’re having a stroke call 911 and get to the hospital as soon as possible.”</p>
<div><strong>What if my symptoms go away in a few minutes? Am I ok?</strong><br>
A transient ischemic attack (TIA), sometimes called a "mini stroke," causes the same symptoms as a stroke but is temporary and doesn't cause permanent damage. But there is nothing “mini” about it — people who have a TIA are very likely to have a much larger stroke soon. If you have stroke-like symptoms that go away, you may have had a TIA.<br>
<br>
</div>
<div>“A TIA is a warning sign that often happens before a stroke and should not be ignored,” Dr. Hoesch said. “If you think you've had a TIA, talk with your doctor right away or go to the emergency room.”<br>
<br>
</div>
<div>Remember, a stroke is a brain attack that requires immediate medical attention. Know the warning signs and get help immediately if you experience them.<br>
<div><br>
</div>
</div>Thu, 28 May 2015 00:00:00 -0600{9125A1C3-F867-491C-B788-F0CACF855724}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/05/live-from-asco-2015/Live from ASCO 2015<p>It&rsquo;s great to be here at the American Society of Clinical Oncology&rsquo;s (ASCO) Annual Meeting&mdash;I&rsquo;m always impressed with the size of this meeting. It is huge!&nbsp; The talks, so far, have been terrific. I continue to be amazed at the pace with which progress is being made across all aspects of cancer. It&rsquo;s an exciting time to be part of cancer research and cancer care&mdash;we are truly in a transformational period of oncology.</p>
<p>I am the Clinical Director of Cancer Genomics at Intermountain Healthcare. We have two abstracts that have been published in conjunction with the 2015 ASCO Meeting. Both abstracts discuss the Intermountain Precision Genomics program at Intermountain Healthcare in Utah. I am enthusiastic about the positive results we have been realizing with patient outcomes.</p>
<p>Leveraging the advantages of the integrated healthcare system of Intermountain Healthcare, we have been able to implement a clinical cancer genomics program for advanced cancer patients within a community setting.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We have the ability to perform next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing on tumor samples, including FFPE, fresh tissue, and plasma. We currently have the ability to test for all possible cancer mutation types and actionable copy number alterations (CNAs). We detect actionable mutations in approximately 85% of our patients and have been able to obtain targeted therapies for 80% of patients who have an actionable alteration.</p>
<p>After identifying actionable gene mutations, a consensus interpretation is made by a Molecular Tumor Board (MTB), which is a collaborative team of genomics experts including scientists, researchers, physicians, and oncologists located across the western United States. Intermountain Precision Genomics facilitates a weekly Molecular Tumor Board, open to providers anywhere in the country, to discuss the best course of action for each metastatic cancer patient based on their genomic findings.</p>
<p>Our precision genomics process, known as ICG100, also includes a drug procurement service that has successfully obtained MTB recommended precision medications for more than 80% of our patients through insurance approval, appeals processes, or clinical trials. This entire process, from NGS to precision drug recommendation and procurement, has an average 17 day turn-around time.</p>
<p>Through our affiliation with Intermountain Healthcare, Intermountain Precision Genomics is uniquely positioned to advance cancer research and monitor outcomes. We evaluate survival rates, quality of life, cost, and side effects. Our early findings regarding patient outcomes following the implementation of genomic medicine are reported in our published ASCO 2015 abstracts.&nbsp; Formal manuscripts will be published later this summer.</p>
<p>Intermountain Precision Genomics is a model for genomics therapy in a cost effective, community setting. It is a model that offers improved access to precision medicine outside of academia. &nbsp;I believe this genomics-based approach is a viable, and perhaps superior, option for patients with refractory metastatic cancer.</p>
<p>For more information, visit Booth #16153 in the Oncology Professionals Hall or&nbsp;<a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/precision-genomics" target="_blank">precisioncancer.org</a></p>
<p>Or refer to our recently published American Society of Clinical Oncology Meeting Abstracts:</p>
<p><a href="http://abstracts.asco.org/156/AbstView_156_152750.html" target="_blank">Precision medicine to improve survival</a>&nbsp;without increasing costs in advanced cancer patients. (Abstract No. e17641)</p>
<p><a href="http://abstracts.asco.org/156/AbstView_156_152375.html" target="_blank">Implementation of a precision cancer program</a>&nbsp;in an integrated health care system. (Abstract No. e17647)</p>Wed, 27 May 2015 00:00:00 -0600{E49A2B8C-D952-4D2E-A38F-560AC6A453FB}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/05/does-being-shorter-put-you-at-greater-risk-for-heart-disease-new-study-says-yes/Does Being Shorter Put You at Greater Risk for Heart Disease? New Study Says Yes.<p>After looking at the genetic variants of 200,000 men and women from around the world, researchers found that for every 2.5 inches of increased height there is a 13.5 percent risk reduction of heart disease. This means the shorter you are, the higher risk of heart disease you have. </p>
<p>Previously, researchers have seen a direct relationship between height and heart disease, but some thought this might be due to other environmental factors, such as poor nutrition, disease, etc. However, the study found that a large group of genes already known to be associated with height were also associated with one&rsquo;s risk of heart disease. This confirms that besides environment, there is also a genetic link between heart disease and height. </p>
<p>&ldquo;There are tons and tons of information about the genetics of heart disease that we don&rsquo;t understand yet,&rdquo; says <a href="https://intermountainhealthcare.org/providers/profile.html?id=1303&amp;brand=ih" target="_blank" title="Learn more about Dr. Muhlestein">Brent Muhlestein, MD</a>, cardiologist and heart researcher at the <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/hospitals/imed/services/heart-institute/Pages/home.aspx" target="_blank">Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute</a>. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s very complicated, but the fact that we&rsquo;re getting somewhere is great.&rdquo;</p>
<p>So do these findings mean tall people shouldn&rsquo;t worry about their heart health? Definitely not, says Dr. Muhlestein. </p>
<p>&ldquo;There are a lot of other risk factors that are not related to height that tall people need to worry about,&rdquo; says Dr. Muhlestein. &ldquo;While they may be better off than shorter people, that doesn&rsquo;t mean they don&rsquo;t have to watch their health.&rdquo;</p>
<p>For those on the shorter side, Dr. Muhlestein says there is still a lot you can do to improve your heart health. </p>
<p>&ldquo;Shorter people have lots of things they can work on,&rdquo; says Dr. Muhlestein. &ldquo;They can make sure they&rsquo;re fit, don&rsquo;t smoke, not overweight, that their cholesterol is well treated and that their diabetes is in control. All those things have a huge effect on your overall health.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The study also found that the genes associated with short height were also linked to higher levels of cholesterol and fats found in a person&rsquo;s bloodstream. Researchers believe some of the height genes may also be controlling both growth and blood vessel development.</p>
<p>&ldquo;These findings demonstrate not only an interesting correlation between height and heart disease, but they also show us where we are going with genetics,&rdquo; says Dr. Muhlestein. &ldquo; This is a study we should pay attention to because it shows where we are going in regards to personalized medicine and figuring out what our genes do and predict about us.&rdquo; </p>Tue, 26 May 2015 00:00:00 -0600